Shutter-operating means



Aug; 23,1927;

2 Sheets-Sheet l l 640,233 Auga 23, 1927. W' A. COLLINS SHUTTER OPERATING MEANS Filed sept; 17, 1925 2 shwtsmwm z Patented Aug. 23, 192'?.v

UNiTE STATES WILLIAM A. COLLINS, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SHUTTER-OPERATING MEANS.

Application led September 17, 1925. Serial No. 56,928.

My invention relates to shutter operating means7 and is particularly adapted to the automatic operation of shutters for automobile radiators. Among the objects of my invention may be mentioned-first, the thermostatic control of the shutter operating motor circuit to maintain the explosion engine at ,its most efficient Working temperature; second, a self-contained unit comprising a moA tor and automatic switch for opening the motor circuit when the shutter has been operated; third, an appropriate mounting for' this unit in the shutter frame so that the shutter and its operating motor unit constitute a unitary appliance readily mountable at the front of the radiator; fourth, variuos features of novelty in the motor circuit, switch and shutter connections hereinafter described or shown in the accompanying` drawings, in which Fig. l is a broken side elevation of portion of the engine block, radiator and shutter showing my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation. of the electric motor and its associated switch;

Fig. 3 is a section drawn to a larger scale showing the electric motor-operated switch;

Fi s. 4-8 inclusive are diagrams illustrating tIie automatic control of the motor circuit;

Fig. 9 is a perspective of the cam illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a section; and

Figfll is a perspective of a modified form of cam and operating connection. i

The advantage in eiiiciency which results from maintaining an explosion engine 4at high temperature Within a predetermined range is well understood. Various devices for. this purpose have been suggested, but have not gone into general use by reason of their complications, thcirdelicacy or their expensive construction.

My invention provides a simple, inexpensive and efficient layout for accomplishing this result. In Fig. l I have indicated thc application of my invention to the operation of a radiator shutter for an automobile cngine of conventional type. Its adaptation to other engine or shutter constructions will bc readily understood by those dealing with the problem.

The water jacket of the engine block 15 is connected by pipe 1G with thev head of radiator 17. In front of the latter are arranged y the shutters 18 by which the iioW of air to the radiator passages is controlled. In the forni here shown the shutters are pivoted in a frame 19 attached to the radiator or to its casing. but they may be mounted directly in the radiator casing if preferred. A bar .20 joined to the several shutters moves them in unison.

To operate the shutters I provide an electric one-way motor 21. the rotor shaft of which is provided with a worm 22 meshing with wormlwhecl 23. Pinion 2li fast With the Worm wheel drives gear 25, on the shaft of which is a crank arm 2G. Connecting rod 27 is jointed to the crank at one end, and to the shutter mechanism at its other end so that upon rotation of the crank its swing through half a rotation opens the shutters, whileits rotation through the balance of the circle closes the shutters. The motor and its associated parts are mounted and housed Within a ventilated casing 28 atthe head' of the frame and preferably integral there- With, and are protected from the heat of the radiator 17 by an asbestos sheet 29, or the like.

The motor circuit is subject to dual control, on the one hand. by a thermostat 30 which may be conveniently mounted on the Water pipe 16 of the engine block, and -on the other hand by a switch 31 (Fig. 2) operated by a motor driven member. A feed Wire 32 is connected to the thermostat 30 from any suitable source of current supply, for example a generator (not shown) associated with the engine. The lead 33 from the motor is rounded to the engine frame, or. the like. etiveen the thermostat 30 and switch 31 the circuit is branched to afford leads 34 and 35 arranged in parallel and connected respectively at one end to the thermostat contact-s 36 and 37. and' at their opposite ends to the contact arms 38 and 39 of the switch 3l. The contact arms 38 and 39 cooperate respectively with the branches of the V-shaped Contact 40 from which Wire 41 leads to the motor winding.

The thermostat may be of any appropriate character. For simplicity I prefer to use a iii-metallic strip 3() having at its free end platinum contacts adapted to engage 7 ends are positively connected to the contacts 38 and 39 (Fig. 10). The approach ot' the arms of the V-contact 40 toward the contacts 38 and 3S) may be limited by stop pins 48. Various other forms ot' switch construction will readily occur to those dealing with the problem. I have `t'ound that shown sufficient for the purpose and economically manufactured and assembled.

While I have shown shutter bars 18 ot a type commonly used, it will be realized that these may be varied in many ways. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, I have indicated a lost motion connection between the connecting rod 27 and the shutters in order to relieve the motor of #an strain, and to prevent possible halt of tie motor. by a positive limitation of movement of the shutters in either direction, before the gear 25 has rotated sufficiently to open the motor circuit. To this end the operating connection between the rod 27 and theshutters 18 is effected through springs 49 and 5() interposed between stops 51 and 52 on 'the rod 27, and the interposed collar 53 connected to bracket 54, which -may be secured either to the bar 20 or to one of the shutters 18 as indicated.

This lost motion connection between the rod 27 and the shutter system has another function. In winter it may not be desirable to fully open the shutters at any time. I therefore provide an adjustable stop 55 which is adapted to engage one of the shut ters, or bracket 54, to limit its play. Since the throw of the crank is'eonstant. the spring 5() is placed under compression as the crank completes its throw at'ter the shutters have been halted by the stop. The same result could be accomplished in various ways; for example by adjusting the crank pin along the length of the crank 26; but this would necessitate the opening of the casing or the location of a door` therein inl order to obtain access to make such an adjustment, and I prefer a device such as the present which is readily accessible and suficient for the purpose. In many localities such a winter adjustment would not be desirable. Noris it necessary in any case. It merely prevents an undesirably frequent opening and closing of the shutters incident to the admission of very cold air to the radiator.

As above stated, the shutter may be built into the radiator casing, in which ease theoperating motor unit would be appropriately located therein. The invention also is applicable to air cooled engines, in which case the thermostat would be located upon .some portion of the engine block instead of u on the ipe 16. However located, it will e Anotedp that the motor operates the shutter positively in both directions. and the closing movement is not dependent upon the action of springs as is new customary in manually operated devices.

Various modifications in details ot conbstruction and arrangement of parts, as well as their adaptation to other types of origines and shutters, will readily be perceived by those dealing with the problem. In the tollowing,r claims I use the woi'd shutter in a sense broad enough to include any appropriate means for cutting otl` the air supply vtrom the radiator or engine.

il claiml. For use with a shutter regulating the flow ot cooling,r air to an explosion engine, an automatic `shutter regulating device comprising' an electire motor operatively connected with the shutter to open and close the ffanie. a thermostat responsive to the engine temperatiure, a motor 'feed circuit branched to afford lilies arranged in parallel adjustable, means associated with the thermostat tor closing alternatively one or the other ot' said parallel lines at opposite extremes ot' a predetermined range of engine temperature, together with a switch device operatively associated with a motoi driven member, said switch device serving, after predetermined motor operation, automatically to open the thermostatically closed branch line, and automatically to close the switch contacts in the other branch line, so that the latter may be thermostatically closed and the motor re-energized when the engine reaches the opposite extreme of its predetermined temperature range.

2. The combination with a shutter regulating the flow of cooling aii to an explosion engine, ot' a one-way electric motor, gearing directly connected to the motor shaft and operatively eomiected to the shutter for opening and closing the same, and means associated with the gearing for opening the motor circuit after predetermined motor 0peration.

3. The combination with a shutter, of a one-way, rotary, electric motor, and a spring between the motor and shutter to permit the shutter to, halt before the motor stops, together with adjustable means for regulating the play of the shutter. 4

ft. Shutter operating mechanism for use with an internal combustion engine comprising a casing, a one-way, rotary 'electric motor for opening and closing the shutter mounted in said casing, a parallel branched motor circuit, a bi-metallic thermostat associated with the internal combustion engine and adapted to close the motor circuit through said branches alternatively at opposite extremes of a predetermined temper ature range, and a switch adapted to open the motor circuit after predetermined 0pcration of the motor, in combination with a crank mounted in the casing, gearing operatively interposed between said motor and l-'shtterv or regulating the' air supply',v to'fthe cooling system,- incombination 'Wth imeans.

- having a crank connecting tllemot'orencl the shutter; said-means;bein'gf adapted .to open and"close the shutter. inresponse'to 'rotary movements of dthe motor .inlV the. same "direction.` f i 6For regulatinglm A.flowdof cooling Iail' to 'an explosion engine radiator; a shutter fframe,I a .shntterca-rred byysaid frame,

' :iV rotary electric motorrhonsedfin's'aid frm'e,

. a vtrninll of gearsl drivenv directly by Ys'id motor, a crank operated byv said gears"and4 a rod'connecting said crank tvithd shutf ter for opening and closingthc latten in combination with e switch-"l'giutomatically opening fthe Vmotor c'ircuit- 'after *predetermined motor operation.

ter'l orjopenins: and vcloeing1 the latter, 'inl combination' with a yielding connection-be- 1to1', fat-'crank operated' by saidgears, an '2.

'tweensaid rofl and 'Sai 1 'shutter"to fpernit i thc motor to completel lts operationwhenj-f the shutter. movementl .is 'arresti-3d, a.' switch automtcally opening theniotor cire. cuit after' .predetermined motoi1 opertion. y 1 8. lin anfapparatns for regulating'v tlie flow of air tlan .explosion cn'gineflc thermostat mounted oi`i-a part of theA engine endl-re#A sponsive to .it'si temperature. Ayariatiom' a. Joncney felectric-fmotor, a parallel branchedA inotor circuit, adjustzible means as'ociated With. sailfthernlos'tatfor closingfthe motor-"circuit through 'said branchesalternativelyat opposite extremes' of a-predetern'iineolv temper# f lin testimony'whereof llhcve .signed my- .util-re, l'zrngfel.fand4 means 'operated 4thcA I 7. Forfregula'ting the @loW'o coonng air name to this.specilication.l v

to'an ezplosioir engine radiator, :t shutter i y y frame, a. shutter carried Vby Seidl frame, 'fai WHJLAM A.' CQLLN'S.' 

